Watershed Governance in the United States: The Challenges Ahead

摘要: In the twentieth century, challenges faced by water resources managers in United States included resource development, structural flood control, and centralized drinking wastewater treatment. this focus has shifted to management of land uses prevent polluted runoff groundwater contamination, restoration physical integrity rivers reverse declines aquatic ecosystems, protection natural capital assets watersheds promote delivery ecosystem services. This shift is occurring response profound problems. Broad cross-sectional data indicate that riverine ecosystems are increasingly threatened simplification attributable excessive withdrawals; channel modifications; erosion sedimentation; deterioration substrate quality; chemical contamination; as well over fishing exotic species introduction (Adler, 1995; Doppelt et al., 1993). Sediment, pathogens, nutrients derived from lead list pollutants for which Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans required under Clean Water Act 303(d) (Table 1). Despite many billions expenditures build, operate administer point-source (PS) pollution control facilities since 1970 (Doppelt, 1993), nonpoint source (NPS) remains nothing short one greatest environmental problems States. also requires an institutional transformation. If our institutions solve these new problems, they must move a system Congressional appropriations largely federalized civil engineering projects federal regulation state-facilitated, locally-led watershed management. Unfortunately, most states lack with political power local legitimacy needed manage absence such strong decisionmaking authority, become politically passive actors can compete neither private sector nor public jurisdictions counties state agencies. short, dilemma similar unplanned cities lies at heart governance. fact define meaningful geographic Cause Impairment Number Listings Table 1. Top 15 Categories Identified on 1998 Lists.